Rotaract West and Rotaract Sanlitun both had very successful events. On Sunday 24 April some braved a steep climb of the Great Wall. All was reviewed during the Sanlitun meeting in Lyrics Cafe on Monday 25 April. Next major event is Art Jam, on 7 May; a repeat event due to its success.

The first Rotaract Beijing West Volunteering event was an amazing day. Everyone had a great experience spending a day with kids from four foster houses. Even though with disabilities, those kids are so smart and talented, each in his/her own way all definitely enjoyed it, and learned a lot from these little kids.

The event was organized by UFCF (United Family Charitable Fund) that brought more than 40 kids from 4 different foster houses together with fellow Rotaractors and BU alumnae. Unforgettable experience for all. All through the Alumnae Association of Boston University in Beijing, they organize every year a “Global Days of Service”; this year they joined that UFCF event. See: http://www.unitedfoundation.org
(As reported by Rotaractor Gau)

Rotaract Beijing Sanlitun had a baking session with migrant children who have hearing disabilities, a project of MCF. Also on Saturday 23 April.
An awesome day volunteering, teaching kids with hearing disabilities how to make an awesome breakfast! All participated actively (10 Rotaractors and 24 kids). They also checked the plants from the previous visit: yes, they are growing!

The ten volunteers headed out to the eastern outskirts of Beijing where a very special school is located, the MCF school for deaf kids. It was this year’s third volunteering event of this kind, a long-term collaboration with the Migrant Children Foundation (MCF). This time it was all about baking. The kids got the opportunity to produce different kinds of baked goods, with a range from chocolate muffins all the way to whole wheat bread. “Mixing different ingredients following a recipe can be a challenge, but also a practical lesson for these kids.” Said one of the volunteers right after the event. “But what also counts for us is to simply make these kids smile. We definitely hit that goal today”. It indeed was an event that was marked by many smiling faces. No wonder – naturally someone had to eat all the freshly baked goods. In the end there was enough food to keep no stomach empty. The volunteers once again proved the theory: Bought food goes into the stomach – self-made food goes right into the heart.
(As reported by Rotaractor Nico)

The Great Wall trip was organized by Nastia, they visited an unrestored section of the Wall in Huanghuacheng.

Yes, we now have to mention Rotaract Sanlitun (or Rotaract East) as the new Rotaract Wudaokou (or Rotaract West) has really started its weekly (Thursday) meetings.
We met in Lyrics Cafe, in SOHO Sanlitun, they moved into a new location with a nice view. Still “soft opening”.

Even with two clubs, attendance was good and the discussion lively.

Next planned are Art Jam (7 May – I will donate the wine), a visit to a MCF school for a baking lesson (23 April) and a joint fundraising event by the two clubs, probably in mid-June, among others.

We had two speakers: Ms. Fei (Program officer – Smile Angel) and Marcus of the Rotaract Club in Sweden.
Nationalities again so diverse: Guyana, Netherlands, France, China, Belgium, Romania, Sweden, Kazakhstan, Lithuania, Germany, USA. Impressive!

On Tuesday 19 April, our usual lunch at the Kempinski.

I received from President Daniel my Paul Harris pin (PHF+6), always nice it gets to Beijing safely… I have been donating to the Rotary Foundation in the past few years continuously, and I recently became a Paul Harris Society Member.

Our speaker was Ms. Angela Poh; topic: “U.S. — China Strategic Rivalry in Southeast Asia”.

(thanks to Celine for her pics!)

Angela is a PhD candidate at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore. Formerly working at Singaporean DoD, she is currently  on a one-year visiting fellowship at Peking University. Her research is on a Chinese perspective on and employment of economic retaliation.
She gave an overview of the strategic competition between the U.S. and China in Southeast Asia. She suggested that there were increasing security and economic tensions between China and the U.S. in the Asia-Pacific region. The chances of miscommunication and miscalculation were high, and countries in the region would need to play constructive roles by incorporating both the U.S. and China into new and existing economic and security institutions in order to delicately manage this strategic rivalry.

Joint Anniversary Celebration with RCBM:
A joint Anniversary Celebration of RC Beijing and RC Beijing Mandarin will be held on Sunday, May 22 at JE Mansion, starting at 6pm. Past RI President Gary Huang will attend the event together with district officers. The ticket is RMB 800 per person (RMB 500 for food and RMB 300 for charity).

Our Tuesday lunch became dinner on 12 April.
Gilbert made his report about Rotaract and presented the banner of his visit to the Rotary Club of Carmel (Indiana).

(thanks to Celine for her pics!)

Speaker was Dr. David Aptsiauri, Ambassador of Georgia, presenting his country.

Georgia is in the Caucasus, a region named after the range of mountains that traces a spectacular diagonal spine from Russia’s Black Sea coast in the northwest, to Baku in the southwest, on the Caspian Sea. This range (higher than the Alps) is considered by many to represent the border between Europe and Asia. Georgia is bordered by Turkey, Armenia and Azerbaijan to the south and Russia to the north. Georgia covers a territory of 69,700 sq Km, and its 2015 population is about 3.75 million. Its favored location has given Georgia a culture partly European, partly Asiatic, but all its own. The climate is diverse, but generally warm and benign. Topography ranges from fertile river valleys to snow-topped peaks and Alpine meadows. Fruit, vines and tea grow in profusion. Georgian wines are a matter of culture.

Georgia also has 500 varieties of grapes and 500 different wines. As it happens, I have at home some wine from Georgia!

Georgians have a story about how their country came to be. God was distributing land among the peoples of the world. The Georgians turned up late and there was no land left. God was annoyed but the Georgians explained that they had been entertaining guests and had got caught up in feasting and thanking God for their blessings with lavish toasts. God was pleased and decide to reward them with the very last spot: “I will give you the land I have been saving for myself.” And so it was that Georgia was born.
This myth holds a lot of truths, as they usually do. It reflects the stunning beauty of the country,and the productive climate.
It also tells of the warmth and hospitality of wine. Georgians still toast, and sing, warmly and without inhibition during their supras.

Georgia is one of the best countries in Europe for investments due to its tax policies. Many companies are looking into moving to Georgia, setting up joint ventures. Georgia has good relations with neighboring countries and China.

Rotarian Eli hosted the auction of Georgian wines donated by the National Wine Agency of Georgia. 13 bottles of wines were all sold and raised RMB 3,950. Together with the happy money, a total of RMB 6,100 was donated to Chunmiao Little Flower.

Special thanks to the Georgian Ambassador Dr. David Aptsiauri and the National Wine Agency of Georgia!